They say that Waterbenders learned their art from the moon. They watched it push and pull at the tides, and learned to do so themselves. Even the meanest of the Water Tribe feels kinship with it, and their bending waxes and wanes by its light.

If that is true, then we gained our gift from the sun. Its eternal light is the source of our strength. By learning how to make that light, how to draw forth that strength, we learned how to shape and control that which fuels us. We learned to draw, from our breath and from our hearts, the strength and majesty of that eternal flame.

The Sun is the source of all life. Without it, all the world would shrivel and die. It gives warmth where there is none, brings light to the dark places. It took the barrenness of the earth and brought forth life were there had only been dust. All things else would be barren, lifeless, and empty.

For Fire is unlike the other elements. Water and Air and Earth are all around us. They are constant parts of our world. Yet earth merely supports us, air and water merely satisfy our needs. It is fire that makes of these greater things. Fire is the Sublime element, the source of creative energies. It is what animates the otherwise dead world. It was fire that gave us mastery over the world, that made us more than mere animals. The other elements gave us existence. Fire gives us essence.

It is the forging element. Air it takes to feed it. From Water, it makes steam. From Earth, it makes steel. From Men, it makes Gods. For we too are forged by it. It hardens us and strengthens us, it burns away the dross that is our weaknesses. It is the purifying element, that takes the world as it is and makes it as it should be. Those who cower from it are lost. Those with the strength to stand in the face of it, are rewarded. Though the Sun gives life, it it merciless and unforgiving. And it burns.

The other nations do not understand. They do not understand what we are doing. They do not know that the forest after a fire is made the stronger for it. The do not understand that it purges all evil and makes everything whole and new. Enamored with the lesser elements, they cannot understand the one which gives them life. They fail to see that we are fighting for the future, for all the world. The cannot tell that the heat and the burns are a small price to pay compared with the glory of Sol Ascendant.

Yet we fight. For that is our mission, That is our Purpose:

To bring Light to dark places.

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Igne Natura Renovatur Integra - Through Fire is Nature renewed.

A/N: A hodgepodge of classical Greek/medieval thought, ancient Sanskrit writings and Alchemical tradition. Not an original Idea in sight. Ah well...